Birth to three is the most important time in a child’s life. Dr. Montessori said that during that time, we must free the child to go on with his/her task of self-creation. That is exactly what we do at Harbor Montessori School.

Montessori Infant

(8 weeks-18 months)

Our infant program nurtures the sense of trust and security in each child. Our Montessori trained infant teachers prepare the classroom with guided exploration in mind. The space is safe and designed to meet the developmental needs of the youngest members of our community. Infants are remarkable “students” who spend their entire infancy learning what it means to be human. Our teachers are models for the students and interact with the babies through singing, speaking, rocking, holding, laughing and smiling. The Montessori education at this level is based on both child and brain development. Safety, love, and cognitive growth are the cornerstones of our program.

Our teachers follow the infants’ schedules and allow them to nap when they are tired, eat when they are hungry and explore when they are ready. Teachers encourage the infant to challenge herself. For example, our teachers will observe an infant who is working on reaching or crawling. The teacher will place an object just out of reach and the infant will problem solve until she gets the object.
The Montessori Infant program is far from a daycare. It is an environment which focuses on all aspects of your child’s development with special focus on independence, language and cognitive growth. This is all done in a safe and loving environment.

Montessori Toddler

(16 months-three years)

The toddler wants to be able to do things without assistance. To foster independence, the children are encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves. Toddlers are capable of so much if we give them the time and patience necessary for them to accomplish tasks on their time schedule. Toddlers at HMS are provided daily with opportunities to meet their physical, social and emotional needs independently with a minimum amount of adult intervention. This is not to say that adult support isn’t given. The toddler teachers are ready to step in when the child needs help or encouragement. The curriculum includes activities that form the mathematical mind, activities that assist language development and lessons in grace and courtesy for social development.

The Toddler Program is multi-aged. The younger children observe the older toddlers and are intrinsically motivated to do what they see them doing (including using the bathroom). The older children are delighted in their newfound skills and excited to be able to help the younger children, which in turn fosters their self-esteem.